Israel orders IDF to seize more Gaza territory if Hamas doesn't release hostages

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prehend much territory successful Gaza if Hamas continues to garbage to merchandise the hostages. Earlier this week, the IDF resumed the warfare successful Gaza aft a astir two-month-long ceasefire that saw the merchandise of 33 hostages.

"If the violent enactment Hamas continues to garbage to merchandise the hostages, I person instructed the IDF to prehend further territories, portion evacuating the population, and to grow the information zones astir Gaza for the payment of protecting Israeli communities and IDF soldiers, done imperishable Israeli power of the territory," Katz said successful a statement. "As Hamas continues its refusal, it volition suffer much and much territory that volition beryllium annexed to Israel."

If Israel follows done connected Katz’s menace of partial annexation, it would beryllium the biggest displacement to the presumption quo successful Gaza successful astir 20 years. In 2005, Israel evacuated Gaza and adjacent sent successful the IDF to physically instrumentality Israelis retired of their homes. A twelvemonth later, Hamas took power and has ruled implicit the Strip ever since.

IDF troops re-entered the Gaza Strip pursuing the illness of the ceasefire.  (IDF)

HAMAS LAUNCHES FIRST ATTACK ON ISRAEL SINCE CEASEFIRE COLLAPSE

Katz besides said that Israel volition proceed Operation "Strength and Sword" with expanding strength until Hamas releases the hostages. Additionally, helium affirmed Israel’s adherence to the connection enactment distant by U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, which involves getting each hostages, live and dead, retired of Gaza successful 2 phases.

The Trump medication is lasting by Israel’s subject decisions. This is simply a precise antithetic attack than the 1 taken by the Biden administration, which supported Israel militarily and diplomatically, but besides enactment unit connected the state to bounds civilian casualties successful Gaza.

Netanyahu, with Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF main Eyal Zamir, held a information appraisal successful the Kirya successful Tel Aviv.  (Prime Minister of Israel )

​ISRAELI OFFICIAL THANKS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AS THE COUNTRY RESUMES WAR IN GAZA

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters connected Thursday that President Donald Trump "fully supports Israel and the IDF successful the actions that they’ve taken successful caller days." The president antecedently warned Hamas that determination would beryllium "hell to pay" if the hostages were not released.

"Hamas could person released hostages to widen the ceasefire but alternatively chose war," NSC Spokesman James Hewitt said connected Thursday. "These terrorists carnivore full work for this struggle and the resumption of hostilities. Every decease would person and could person been avoided had Hamas accepted the 'bridge' connection Special Envoy Witkoff offered past week."

Palestinians proceed to instrumentality to Beit Lahia, a metropolis successful bluish Gaza that was devastated by Israeli attacks, done the rubble and damaged buildings connected March 8, 2025, successful Beit Lahia, Gaza. (Khalil Ramzi Alkahlut/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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While warring the warfare against Gaza, Israel is besides experiencing interior turmoil. On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bureau announced that a ballot to disregard the caput of the Shin Bet, Israel’s mentation of the FBI, had passed. Current Shin Bet main Ronen Bar volition service successful the relation until April 10, but that could alteration depending connected erstwhile a replacement for him is found.

Netanyahu claimed helium could not spot Bar, according to a connection from his spokesperson cited by Axios. In a missive distributed by the Shin Bet, Bar dismissed the assertion and said the motives down his firing were baseless. On Friday, Israel's Supreme Court issued a impermanent injunction preventing Bar's dismissal, which volition stay successful spot until the tribunal tin perceive petitions against the dismissal.